USA is #37 and Proud of it!

[Ling Ling 22]

[rebeccajo 14]

And just think...............I almost didn't sit down to my PC during lunch!

Thanks Ling Ling.......that's AWESOME!

[Mark&Steph 0]

That was fun.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its depressing that people still think that the US has the best healthcare system when this is the reality.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

That's Propaganda and you know it!

Number 37 my #######.

We're number ONE!

Nobody spends as much of the GDP as we do on health care.

We're number ONE!

Nobody spends as much per capita as we do on health care.

We're number ONE!

No other developed country leaves as many people behind as we do in health care.

We're number ONE!

No other developed country has a larger percentage of the population not covered.

We're number ONE! And we're damn proud of it!

Edited September 14, 2009 by Mr. Big Dog

[Ling Ling 22]

Its depressing that people still think that the US has the best healthcare system when this is the reality.

In a way, we DO have the best healthcare system in the world....well, some Americans do.

It's called Tricare. Joe Wilson has it

Many consider Tricare to be the best healtcare system in the world....and it's run by the US Government.

Joe Wilson said,

"As a 31-year Army Guard and Reserve veteran, I know the importance of TRICARE," he said in a press release. "The number of individuals who choose to enroll in TRICARE continues to rise because TRICARE is a low cost, comprehensive health plan that is portable and available in some form world-wide." He went on to call TRICARE "world class health care," concluding on a personal note. "I am grateful to have four sons now serving in the military, and I know that their families appreciate the availability of TRICARE,".

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/a...are-secret.aspx

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A guy I know is currently fighting with his insurance company because they've decided that he doesn't need his pain medication for a neuropathic condition that required the amputation of several toes....

You have to be an utter ####### to refuse someone pain medication for neuropathy.

[HAL 9000 96]

A guy I know is currently fighting with his insurance company because they've decided that he doesn't need his pain medication for a neuropathic condition that required the amputation of several toes....

You have to be an utter ####### to refuse someone pain medication for neuropathy.

You have to be an utter ####### to refuse someone coverage for something they've technically paid for.

10 times over.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A guy I know is currently fighting with his insurance company because they've decided that he doesn't need his pain medication for a neuropathic condition that required the amputation of several toes....

You have to be an utter ####### to refuse someone pain medication for neuropathy.

You have to be an utter ####### to refuse someone coverage for something they've technically paid for.

10 times over.

Well there is that too

I'm currently trying to figure out why there is a difference in the out of pocket expenses for a routine dental checkup for my wife and I at different dentists.

We both go to in-network providers - yet my 6 month checkup cost me nothing, we just got a bill from hers for $60!

[Ling Ling 22]

This is from my uncle...he's an American living in France (teaching at the Sorbonne).

I wouldn't give up our health care system here in France for anything in the world. It's so good I can't even explain it to American's. (I've tried and people just don't get it). The reason our system is so good and comprehensive is because it was created in the immediate aftermath of WWII when people had nothing. No hope, no jobs, no money, nothing. So the government created a health care system that would look after everyone. Now, the problem with having a 1945 system in 2009 is the cost. It is enormously expensive for the government and there are questions as to how it can continue to be covered. One thing they're talking about is asking us to pay more when we visit a hospital or a doctor. What does pay more mean? Well one day I fell on the steps and really hurt my chest. I thought I'd broken a rib, so I went to the hospital. I was examined first by a nurse, then a doctor, then given an x-ray, and finally a consultation and a prescription for pain killers. It cost me about $20. They're talking about raising it to $25.(which we get reimbursed) A full check-up at the doctor's office, a private doctor, cost me about $75. Oh, my prescription when I fell cost $1.50. That's one-dollar-fifty cents. And I'm not even a French citizen. Nope. Wouldn't trade it for anything.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I thought it was interesting that roughly 60% of the bankruptcies in this country (as of 2007) were directly related to medical costs.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I thought it was interesting that roughly 60% of the bankruptcies in this country (as of 2007) were directly related to medical costs.

See, we truly are number ONE!

No health care system bankrupts as many people as ours does.

Number ONE, no doubt.

Edited September 14, 2009 by Mr. Big Dog

[rebeccajo 14]

A guy I know is currently fighting with his insurance company because they've decided that he doesn't need his pain medication for a neuropathic condition that required the amputation of several toes....

You have to be an utter ####### to refuse someone pain medication for neuropathy.

You have to be an utter ####### to refuse someone coverage for something they've technically paid for.

10 times over.

Well there is that too

I'm currently trying to figure out why there is a difference in the out of pocket expenses for a routine dental checkup for my wife and I at different dentists.

We both go to in-network providers - yet my 6 month checkup cost me nothing, we just got a bill from hers for $60!

Several things could be wrong.

There could be a mistake - the doctors office might have coded the billing wrong.

Or you have individual deductibles. The new plan we have here at work has a $50 per year deductible per person.

Or - dental insurance usually provides for a certain number of preventative cleanings per year. Does yours pay once a year or twice?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A guy I know is currently fighting with his insurance company because they've decided that he doesn't need his pain medication for a neuropathic condition that required the amputation of several toes....

You have to be an utter ####### to refuse someone pain medication for neuropathy.

You have to be an utter ####### to refuse someone coverage for something they've technically paid for.

10 times over.

Well there is that too

I'm currently trying to figure out why there is a difference in the out of pocket expenses for a routine dental checkup for my wife and I at different dentists.

We both go to in-network providers - yet my 6 month checkup cost me nothing, we just got a bill from hers for $60!

Several things could be wrong.

There could be a mistake - the doctors office might have coded the billing wrong.

Or you have individual deductibles. The new plan we have here at work has a $50 per year deductible per person.

Or - dental insurance usually provides for a certain number of preventative cleanings per year. Does yours pay once a year or twice?

Its twice a year for us and I make sure I go twice a year; but my wife hadn't been in nearly a year. There's no deductible as far as I'm aware and I haven't had to pay once since I started going to this place - even a filling I needed didn't cost me a penny.

I'm guessing they just coded it wrong, but I loathe (and resent) calling up these people to tell them to do their job properly. Seems a complete waste of everyone's time.

[rebeccajo 14]

A guy I know is currently fighting with his insurance company because they've decided that he doesn't need his pain medication for a neuropathic condition that required the amputation of several toes....

You have to be an utter ####### to refuse someone pain medication for neuropathy.

You have to be an utter ####### to refuse someone coverage for something they've technically paid for.

10 times over.

Well there is that too

I'm currently trying to figure out why there is a difference in the out of pocket expenses for a routine dental checkup for my wife and I at different dentists.

We both go to in-network providers - yet my 6 month checkup cost me nothing, we just got a bill from hers for $60!

Several things could be wrong.

There could be a mistake - the doctors office might have coded the billing wrong.

Or you have individual deductibles. The new plan we have here at work has a $50 per year deductible per person.

Or - dental insurance usually provides for a certain number of preventative cleanings per year. Does yours pay once a year or twice?

Its twice a year for us and I make sure I go twice a year; but my wife hadn't been in nearly a year. There's no deductible as far as I'm aware and I haven't had to pay once since I started going to this place - even a filling I needed didn't cost me a penny.

I'm guessing they just coded it wrong, but I loathe (and resent) calling up these people to tell them to do their job properly. Seems a complete waste of everyone's time.

Check with the dentist's office first. But yeah - I hear ya.